Does It Really Matter What I Believe?

Many claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. Some say He is a prophet, a good teacher, the Son of God, Michael the archangel, the firstborn spirit child of God the Father and spirit brother of Lucifer, false teacher, false prophet, a hoax, never existed, a myth, God come in the flesh, God the Son second person of the Trinity.

These are warnings for us to consider our steps:

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”

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Proverbs 14:15 “The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps.”

We are to test everything and make sure we have not been deceived. Faith in Jesus is proven by the fact that Jesus is in us and unless He dwells within us we fail the test.

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1 Thessalonians 5:21 “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good”

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you–unless indeed you fail the test?”

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The Bible gives us warnings that there are false apostles, false prophets, those who on the outside look and sound like sheep, but are according to Jesus’ own words are “ravenous wolves.” We need to be careful and make sure that what we believe is truly of God.  Eternity is not worth being wrong.

2 Corinthians 11:4 “For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully."

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2 Corinthians 11:13-15 “13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”

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Matthew 7:13-15 “13 Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15 Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

This is why it is important to know what you believe:

Matthew 7:21-23 “21 Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ` I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'”

Many will say they believed in the Lord and some will have some convincing reasons, but in the end Jesus will say to them, “I NEVER KNEW YOU, DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.” Those are scary words that will be a reality one day.

How does one test for true prophets and apostles, or teachers of God?

Acts 2:42 “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

1 Corinthians 3:11 “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 2:20 “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone”

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What did the Apostles and Prophets teach? They taught that the Christ was Jesus. They taught that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God come in the flesh. They taught that Jesus claimed to be the ‘I AM’ in the flesh. They taught that Jesus came to save all mankind from their sins. They taught that Jesus was the Messiah, the Holy One of Israel. They taught that salvation was based on a saving faith in the Lord Jesus, and knowing Him personally. They taught that Jesus is the only way of salvation, and that it is through His shed blood, death, and resurrection that we can have reconciliation with God.( 1 John 2:22/ John 5:17-24/ John 8:24/John 8:28/ John 8:58/ John 13:19/ John 18:5-6/ John 3:16-18/ Acts 3:14/ 2 Corinthians 13:5/ Acts 4:12/ John 14:6/ Colossians 1:19-22/ 1 Corinthians 15:1-17/ Romans 5:8-10 )

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Matthew 7:21-23 “21 Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ` I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'”

Is Jesus your LORD and Savior? Is Jesus the One who has made atonement for your sins? If not consider what Jesus says concerning Himself in the following quotes:

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John 8:24 “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

John 14:3-6 “3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 “And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

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Jesus said He is the only way to the Father, and unless we accept Him as God come in the flesh who came to set us free from our sins, then we will die in our sins. It is important to know Jesus accurately, for eternity is not worth hoping you were right, or that it just feels good.

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It is simple yet hard to accept. The Gospel is that Jesus came from heaven to reconcile man to God, and He did that through the cross and through His resurrection. That is good news to those who receive Jesus as true God come in the flesh sent from the Father. To those who do not come to know this and know the Jesus of the Bible, then their lives will result in eternal separation from God.

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Romans 5:8-10 “8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

Does it matter what you believe? Yes it does! Choose whom this day you will serve. Will it be your pride, self deception or a false religion that will keep you from knowing the Lord of all, Jesus the Christ? May you come to know Him this day, the true Jesus, and be reconciled and washed by the blood Lamb, Jesus the Lord.